Signal.



PfM. SMITH.

SIGNAL.

' APPLICATION EILED JUNE 8,19l5. 1,187,015, PatentedJune 13,1916.

' V OUT I WILL RETURN SOON PEARL M. SMITH, OF PAWPAW, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June13, 1916.

Application filed June 8, 1915. Serial No. 32,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. PEARL M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawpaw, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same. v

This invention is an improved signal for use especially by a doctor, in the window of his office or in any other suitable place, to indicate whether he is in or out and thus, in cases where the oiiice is in the upper story, save persons the eifort of going to his door only to learn that the doctor is absent, the object of the invention being to provide an improved signaling device of this character which is cheap and simple, which may be readily installed and which may be easily operated.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and' claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a signaling device constructed in accordance with my invention and with the signal board lowered in the casing. Fig. 2'is a similar view with the signal board raised to display one side thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view, with the signal board lowered and arranged in the casing. Fig. '5 is a detail perspective view of the tubular standard. Fig. 61s a detail transverse sectional view of the same and of the signal rod.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a casing 1 which is here shown as elliptical in form but which may be of any suitable shape and may also be of any suitable size. The casing is here indicated as comprising a pair of sheet metal walls 2 united together at the sides and bottom of the casing as at 3, the casing being open on its upper side as at 4. The casing. is supported in a vertical position on the upper end of a'tubular standard 5, said standard having a suitable base 6 which may be secured on a window sill or other suitable place by means of screws. has a vertical slot 7 in one side and is provided near its upper end with a transverse semi-circular slot 8 which communicates .lIl

The standard with the slot 7 in the point 9 where there is an opening, a similar opening 10 being opposite the opening or communicating point The signal 11 is a board or plate, here shown as elliptical in form and adapted to be arranged in the casing or to be raised, to display position above the casing.

In practice the signal board or plate will have suitable inscriptions on opposite sides, such for instance, Out, Will return soon on one side and as Out of town on the other side. The signal maybe painted any suitable color on one or both sides and the letters may be of any suitable distinctive colors. The signal has a vertical supporting rod 12 which extends, down from its center and is movable vertically and also adapted to be partly turned in the bore of the tubular standard 5 and is provided with a locking bolt 13 near its lower end, which extends transversely thereof, and the engaging end of which bolt may be engaged with either the opening 9 or the opening 10, according to the side of the signal it is desired to display from-the outside of the window. 'A spring 15 is provided to engage the bolt with eitherof said openings and the stem of the bolt has at its outer end a thumb piece orknob 16, which holds the rod12 in either of its positions.

From the foregoing description it willbe understood that the doctor or other person using the signal can almost instantly set the same to indicate whether he will return soon or is going out of town. When the signal is lowered within the casing and not displayed it will be understood that the doctor is in his office. 7

V The use of the signal will-obviate the necessity ofascending stairs and applying personally at an oiiice in order to ascertain whether the doctor or other person sought is Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A signal device of the class described comprising a tubular-casing provided with a pair of diametrically opposed openings adjacent its upper end, said casing having a longitudinal slot therein intersecting one of said openings at its upper end and its lower end terminating into an enlarged opening, transverse slot communicating at its opposite ends with each of said openings in the upper endof the casing, a rod slidably arsaid casing also provided with a ing means forholding the rodin its extended or inward position, the said last mentioned means provided at its outerend with a lmob for moving the said rod and holding the same against upward or downward movement.

2. In a device of the class described ineluding a base, a tubular casing secured to and extending vertically from said base,

said tubular casing provided at diametri cally opposite points with openings adj acent its upper end, a transverse slot connecting each of said openings, said tubular casing also provided with a longitudinal slot com- 7 municating with one of said openings on its 7 upper end, and terminating at its lower end nto an enlarged opening, 'a rod slidably mounted in said tubular casing and mounted Gopies of thi s patent may be obtained or V p and a radial movable spring secured around sald operatfive cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

adjacent its lower end with an operating bolt, one end of said operating bolt project- I ingoutthrough the longitudinal slot of the casing,

a knob of larger diameter secured on the outer end of said operating bolt, spring means surrounding the inner end of said bolt, said spring means adapted to hold the knob in the large openings fornormally holding the rod against lateral or longitudinal movement, a substantially 'U- shaped bracket on the upper end of said rod for supporting the signaling element therei said knob adapted to be pulled outwardly against the tension of the spring for moving said rod upwardly within the casing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PEARL M. SMITH.

CHAS. '0. CASE.

Commissioner of Patents, 

